City comparison
Colorado Springs, CO vs Fort Collins, CO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Colorado Springs, CO (100.7) and Fort Collins, CO (101.1, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Colorado Springs, CO goes as far as $100,400 in Fort Collins, CO.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,464 a month in Colorado Springs, CO and $1,537 in Fort Collins, CO.
- Both are in CO, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,692 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +8.6% moving from Colorado Springs, CO to Fort Collins, CO ($109,246 → $118,675), while prices change by +0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.2% in real buying power.
- Colorado Springs, CO: price level 100.7 (about average)
- Fort Collins, CO: price level 101.1 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Colorado Springs, CO | Fort Collins, CO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.7 | 101.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,418 in Fort Collins | $99,584 in Colorado Springs |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,464/mo | $1,537/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $75,488 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $3,692 (CO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $52,710 | $55,310 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Colorado Springs, CO | Denver-Aurora, CO |
Rent areas: Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area and Fort Collins-Loveland, CO MSA. Metro areas: Colorado Springs, CO and Fort Collins-Loveland, CO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Colorado Springs | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.2 | 120.6 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 96.1 |
| Utilities | 83.2 | 82.2 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 100.7 | 101.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Colorado Springs, CO → Fort Collins, CO
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
67 Fair offer
Fort Collins, CO → Colorado Springs, CO
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
70 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Colorado Springs, CO is in the Colorado Springs, CO pay area; Fort Collins, CO is in Denver-Aurora, CO. The last column shows what a transfer from Colorado Springs, CO to Fort Collins, CO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Colorado Springs, CO | Fort Collins, CO | Real change, Colorado Springs → Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,351 | $68,819 | +8.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,650 | $83,265 | +8.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,870 | $99,800 | +8.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,246 | $118,675 | +8.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,096 | $140,239 | +8.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Colorado Springs, CO | Fort Collins, CO | Fort Collins pay in Colorado Springs dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,140 | $62,930 | $62,668 (+2.5%) |
| Software Developers | $134,280 | $133,990 | $133,432 (−0.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,000 | $89,340 | $88,968 (+4.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,140 | $97,600 | $97,194 (+1.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.